Justification: Through Faith alone?

3-14-08 | me

[Originalist]

ME: note it says ‘no one’ it doesnt say the individual cant.....we are not robots compelled to Christ against our will...some leave, some stay. Your free will is not compromised so that you cant decide to leave....

I did notice it says "no one", that's why I bolded it. "No one" would include ourselves.

Galatians 3:13 (English Standard Version)

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"—

The word translated as "redeemed" here means to purchase wholly, as if buying a slave.

Slaves don't get to "decide to leave"...

[Originalist]

Put whatever spin on this very direct scripture that you'd like. I'm going to accept it as written: that saying "Lord" is not enough; DOING the will is also required.

Romans 10:13 (English Standard Version)

13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

How does your "very direct scripture" square with this "very direct scripture"?

Verses taken out of context (of the passage, of the chapter, of the book, and of the entire Bible) are not safe ground for doctrine. The entire NT's message is (paraphrased) "Believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, and you will be saved". The words belief or faith are used right at 200 times in the NT. God put's no qualifier on Salvation.

Simply believe...

[jkl1122]

God put's no qualifier on Salvation. Simply believe...

This is a complete contradiction. First you say that God puts no qualifier on salvation, then follow that up with saying that one must simply believe. Belief is itself a qualifier, as you put it.

[dmz]

Years ago even the pooorest village in the “Third world” had a TV in a tree and now they have cell phones and computers
_________________

absolutely incorrect.

[raygunfan]

Slaves don’t get to “decide to leave

ME: but we are not slaves in the classical sense, we still have freewill.

by your including ‘no one’ to mean ourselves as well, then you are saying God has forced us, that we did not willing accept a gift, and that isnt christianity...that is slavery, in every sense of the word.

[Scourge of God]

Simply believe...

Paul the Apostle had to teach a generation of “Law-bound” Jews a new way. The Jews believed that empty ordinances, sacrifices, and obedience to rules gave them salvation. This was not the case; the new covenant required faith and obedience in Jesus Christ. The old ways were completed, fulfilled, and now done away with.

So he was teaching these faithful a new way of life. They had a hard time turning it around. So of course he had to emphasize faith to them, to get them off the law and into the new covenant.

But the new covenant still requires obedience, baptism, and a life time of devotion. Your soul and your eternal reward are too important for you to think a single “I accept Jesus as my Savior” is going to save you.

The scriptures teach that faith and works are both required.

End of story.

[Mr. Lucky]

What did the thief on the cross “do” to merit salvation?

[baa39]

We are saved by Christ alone through his Church. Those want to get into a pedantic argument with a never-ending ping pong match of Bible quotations are missing the whole point. We cannot save ourselves (how conceited) whether by faith or works.

[MHGinTN]

Placed his faith in Jesus and asked Him to 'remember him wqhen He came into His Kingdom'.

To resolve the conflict between James and Paul's teaching regarding faith versus works one needs to first notice to whom James addressed his epistle. Frankly, it wasn't to me because I am a gentile. James, in the counsel at Jerusalem, told Paul that he was to go to the gentile world and James and Peter would evangelize the Jewish tribes. In that same meeting, read (in the Book of Acts) what James directed to be a part of the message to the gentile world ... hint: it was to observe the most fundamental of the kosher laws!

Argue all you want over the issue, but the bottom line is Whom is responsible for your individual salvation. If you think it is you TO ANY EXTENT, you are msitaken because you are no match for Satan. I have more than thirty five years of learning that God is in me to transform me. There is not one 'work' I can cite in the past thirty five years which I can take credit for if it reflected God's character in my soul because He alone is the author of His character if it comes out through your spirit.

[Here's one last hint: God's perspective on the dimension of Time is such that He can, at any moment in your lifetime or before or after it, focus upon the moment you professed faith in Jesus to be your Deliverer from your fallen nature ... and any portion of your life He so desires to do it with can be forgotten, absolutely. Your memory of your sins is not relevant because it is what sin of you God choses to deal with that is relevant. And He has made provision for wiping your slate 100% clean in His eyes by looking at His Son's sinless life and sacrifice for you, BUT He has said He will only do that for those who look to Him to cleanse their human spirit and transform their 'want to' by His Spirit in the human spirit. If you think you are delivered from sin yet you have had no change in your 'want to', get down on your knees in the privacy of your life and humble yourself and ask Him to be your merciful Deliverer ... if you are His, He wants His character showing forth in your life.]

[SkyPilot]

Grace alone. Upon accepting the gift your spirit desires to be like Jesus and thus you do good works.

Amen. That's the message of Christ in a nutshell.

8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 10: 8-13

Christ saves us from Hell.

I am amazed at even some Evangelicals who talk about their salvation, but do not realize what they are saved from.

Hell. That is what Christ saves us from.

As stated here, works are not unimportant, but they are not a ticket to Salvation.

No.

Never.

Not.

The people who believe that believe that God the Almighty owes me!

Uhhhh....no. He doesn't "owe" you anything.

Works for Christ are recognized on heaven and on earth as wonderful, holy, acts of joy, beneficial, love in action, evidence of Christ, will be rewarded 100 fold in heaven, a living witness to non-believers, and something that Christ will declare on the last day.

But - they don't save you from Hell.

Christ did that. Only Christ.

"It is finished."

John 19:30

Those of you who declare otherwise think much too much of yourselves.

[Mr. Jeeves]

You better hope salvation isn’t based on paragraph tags. ;)

[Resolute Conservative]

No it does not. End of story.

[SkyPilot]

What did the thief on the cross “do” to merit salvation?

And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Luke 23:42-43

Nothing, except call on Christ to save him.

He didn't say....

"Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise....._{(as soon as you go and do some good works)."}

A perfect example, and I am glad you brought it up.

Thank you.

[SkyPilot]

The scriptures teach that faith and works are both required.

Nope.

[verity]

The theologians on this thread are as impressive as ever. lol

[joebuck]

Amen. Scripture is clear that those who don’t accept God’s grace in Jesus will be judged according to their works. None will measure up and will face the second (permanant) death described in Revelation. Those who accept Jesus and are born again will have salvation and not face the second death. Thus, if you’re born twice you die once. If you’re born once you die twice.

[Tennessee Nana]

“Years ago even the poorest village in the “Third world” had a TV in a tree and now they have cell phones and computers”
Not true.
______________________________________________

Well, it is true...

but that was not my point...

verity had said...

swmobuffalo

Have you forgotten that there are many people on this planet who have not been exposed to Christianity and never will be?

9 posted on 03/14/2008 10:16:56 AM PDT by verity (”Lord, what fools these mortals be!”)
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And so I answered that god can use modern technology...

Why worry about how God will get the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to everyone ???

God is in control...

God is quite capable of uswing modern technology to inform everyone on earth of their need for a savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ...

God, if He wants to can speak to every heart, Himself...

and all at the same time...

I’m not about to tell God how he should do it...

I just believe he is able, and He will...

:)

Dont limit God...

[verity]

"Well, it is true..."

Absolute nonsense.

[Tennessee Nana]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

God does not like modern technology ???

:)

[SkyPilot]

Scripture is clear that those who don’t accept God’s grace in Jesus will be judged according to their works. None will measure up and will face the second (permanant) death described in Revelation. Those who accept Jesus and are born again will have salvation and not face the second death. Thus, if you’re born twice you die once. If you’re born once you die twice.

I never heard it expressed quite that way - but you are right on.

Bingo!

And thanks.